NPR Talks 2011 Books-Into-Films: ‘Water for Elephants’

The Book: A runaway bestseller, Sara Gruen’s historical novel centers on circus worker Jacob Jankowski and the eclectic cast of characters working for The Benzini Brothers’ Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Gruen wrote the novel in a month, apparently, basing the core of the book on the story of Jacob from the Book of Genesis. The paperback edition hit #1 on the New York Times bestseller list in 2007.

The Film: Combine one-part Reese Witherspoon and one-part Robert Pattinson, and a couple of pachyderms, and you may have Pattinson’s most successful book-to-screen outing that isn’t Twilight. Bonus: Fewer screaming girls to contend with. Trailer here.